18 Kenyans rescued from Russia's death enterprise return home

Oscar Mutoka after being conscripted in the Russian Army.[Wellingtone Nyongesa,Standard]

Eighteen Kenyan families are a happy lot following the safe return of their kin previously trapped on the Russian war frontline.

The 18 who are part of the 82 individuals that were reported to have contacted the Kenyan embassy in Moscow seeking to be helped to come back home.

Based on the government’s own records, at least 64 Kenyans are still agonising in the European country awaiting help to return home.

Several Kenyans were tricked to travel to Russia with promises of well paying jobs, promises that turned false.

Many are reported to be recuperating from serious injuries, and, as others now heal, all are suffering from impoverishment.

Majority of the returnees The Standard contacted were unwilling to relate their experiences while some outrightly said they have been warned not to speak to the media. 

The rescued Kenyans were mainly serving in two Russian military camps: the Istra Wagner Military Base that lies 80km from Moscow and was holding 29 Kenyans, from where five were rescued, and the St Petersburg Camp that was holding 26 Kenyans, seven of who have returned home. 

Interestingly, Daniel Moogi and Daniel Muriuki manoeuvred their way out of the frontlines and left Russia after notifying the embassy in Moscow that they would manage their way out.

The last of the 18 returnees whose names we reveal today, arrived in the country aboard a Turkish Airways plane on December 4, 2025.

Before he was rescued by Kenya’s mission in Moscow, Michael Barasa had been admitted at a hospital in Balashiha Russia. Kenya’s diplomats facilitated his return by processing emergency travel documents for him and the other 17, The Standard learned.

The previous day, Stanley Mungai and Brian Kimutai had arrived via the same airline.

Mungai had been hospitalized at Vishnyevski 5 after sustaining an injury on his right hand and being diagnosed with Pneumonia. After being rescued while in hospital, he was sent to St Petersburg to await his return home. Details about Kimutai are scanty, apart from the fact that he came on the same day as Mungai and had no serious injuries.

John Ngure Kariuki and Charles Lengine arrived back in the country on November 21 aboard Etihad Airways.

Kariuki had arrived in Russia on September 13 on a promise of a job that was not related to military service but found himself forced onto the frontline. He was sent to Russia’s Luhansk base in Ukraine.

Lengine, on his part, arrived in Russia in the month of August and had also been dispatched to the Luhasnk frontline by the Russian unit that he served.

Three days earlier, on November 18, Newton Maliro had arrived back home. He had a fractured arm and an injured leg when Kenya’s diplomats reached him. He had been admitted at a hospital whose name has not been given.

Between November 2 and September 29, a total of twelve Kenyans landed back home aboard Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and Egypt Air.

They are Chitsangi Matano Athman on November 12, Daniel Muriuki, Daniel Moogi, Orima Jobick Otieno, Wilson Mwaoka Mwanyalo, Vincent Odhiambo Awiti, George Rimba Mwagona, Kevin Kariuki Nduma, Derrick Njaga, Pius Mwika, Shaquile Wambo and Benson Osomo Osieko who arrived on October 16 via Atihad Airways.

The 18 have suffered and still hold exigencies of war that is neither theirs nor their country’s.

A letter signed by Kenya’s ambassador to Russia Peter Mathuki and addressed to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, which The Standard accessed earlier, says that the embassy continues to liaise with Kenyans in distress to help them come back home.

“Since the Mission published an alert on the website and social media pages advising all Kenyans travelling or in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan to register and inform the Embassy on their arrival in Russia,” the letter reads in part,  “we received several enquiries, emails and correspondences from Kenyans in distress in various military camps in the Russian Federation.”

The letter says the Mission has since rescued and facilitated 18 Kenyans, including issuing them with emergency travel documents and returned home safely.

Since the onset of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2022, recruitment into the Russian military has expanded to include the larger Global South.

International Military and security analysts have intimated to The Standard that a decision was made in the Kremlin to expand recruitment of foreigners into Russia’ war machine.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi was last month quoted saying that more than 200 Kenyans may have been recruited, with networks believed to remain active in both Kenya and the Russian Federation.

The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow has confirmed cases of injuries among Kenyan nationals and others left stranded after attempted recruitment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday told The Standard that it has received multiple emails and urgent communications from Kenyans in distress in various military camps in Russia. Several of them have reported injuries while others are stranded.

As of today, more than a hundred Kenyans are still trapped on the Russian war frontlines serving a foreign country without pay. Meanwhile, back home their families are in distress, awaiting word from the government on the whereabouts of their sons.

In Maragua, the family of Elias Mbira is seeking the support of the government to rescue of their son Willy Muniu Macharia who is stranded in Russia. The family says Macharia, 22, a National Youth Service (NYS) graduate, flew to Russia in July, after meeting the requirements for recruitment.

The family says it lost communication with Macharia on November 15. Prior to his silence, they had been communicating every day through the mobile phone number said to belong to his unit commander. 

According to the family, their kin left Kenya on July 26 alongside eight other Kenyans.

They arrived the following day, and Sh1.3 million was deposited in his bank account, but the funds were allegedly emptied without their knowledge. 

In Ikapolok village of Teso, Milcah Wangila still hopes that her husband Oscar Khagola Mutoka will come back home from Russia. 

Five months have gone by since the last fragmented call, when she  conversed with  Khagola, her husband of 17 years.

Khagola, a 39-year-old father of three and former military officer was driven across continents by the desperate hope for greener pastures in Russia.

He left his family, believing that a promised job would be the lifeline they needed to fend off the grinding poverty at their door.